It's taken a while for me to get this completed but thanks to help from a couple of graphic designers I have a new logo. I wanted it to have the same

 MG designnews
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McReynol'ds OL

It's taken a while for me to get this completed but thanks to help from a couple of graphic designers I have a new logo. I wanted it to have the same style and look as the old Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from the turn of the last century. Sanborn was a company that provided maps to many cities showing the locations of properties and buildings for insurance purposes. They had a distinct way of creating title blocks for each city and no two were alike. A graphic designer named Jason Montes worked with me on the finished product and was able to design exactly what I wanted. I plan on having it printed on yard signs to advertise on properties where I have ongoing projects as well as embroidered on my own company shirts and hats. If you see this sign you should immediately take down the information and hire me for your next project.

This summer was quite a busy one for all of us. At the end of June we spent some time with our friends, the Lovells, in San Antonio. We were down there for four nights and, like hobos, stayed in four different hotels: the J.W. Mariott-Hill Country; Lackland AFB (where Sandy completed a training course); the Mariott Riverwalk (which is actually on the river walk in San Antonio); and finally the Omni Hotel in Austin. We spent a day at Sea World and got soaked by Shamoo. The next day found us sight-seeing at the river walk, both during the day and evening. On the way home we decided to stop in Austin. We got to walk through the state capitol and went over to the Congress Avenue Bridge that evening to watch 1.5 million bats fly out from their perches beneath the bridge for their nightly search for 10,000-20,000 pounds of bugs to eat. We've been having a fly problem lately. Maybe I should build a bat house.

This summer Hannah signed up on the same team for club soccer and Ian took an online health course in order to get a class credit out of the way from his freshman coursework. Basically he had a semester of work crammed into less than 30 days. He worked really hard and did great in the class. At the end of July the four of us, plus Janet's mother, made the 14 hour drive to Atlanta. We got to see our new nephew, Jace Wilson, and visited quite a bit with the rest of the McReynolds clan. Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year, and Janet and I celebrated our 20th as well.

As always be sure and visit my website to see some of the new projects that I'm working on.

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Skyview Atlanta

 
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Peachtree Plaza

 
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22 floors up!

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The Gamble Residence

You may recall this name from one of my earlier newsletters. Last year this young family had planned on remodeling and adding on to their existing home (replacing the patio chiminea with a fireplace for Santa's convenience). After getting several bids back from different contractors they decided it would be more practical to buy a property in the same neighborhood where they are living and replace the existing house with a new one. By doing that the Gambles would ensure that they would get the house of their dreams designed totally from scratch.

They really like the symmetry and look of a traditional home but with a floor plan that reflects today's living. As with most homes today the formal living room has been replaced with a secluded study. Mrs. Gamble loves to cook but the kitchen in their old house was separated from the family room which meant that she used to be apart from the family entertainment. This kitchen puts her right in the middle of the family fun with close access and great visibility to the backyard.

The master suite is spacious with a bathroom that will be beautifully efficient. The laundry room has an access cabinet to the master closet as well as a laundry chute from above. Upstairs all three bedroom have plenty of storage and closet space, and the large game room has an adjoining over-sized walk-in closet with direct access to the huge attic storage.

Gamble

Front Elevation

Main Level

Main Level

Upper Level

Upper Level

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Need A Handyman?

Matts

Matt Phillips is a friend of mine who worked with his father as a super-
intendent at their home building company in Austin for many years. He specializes in finish out work, including: building decks; carpentry; electrical and plumbing work; floor and wall tile.

Give him a call and he'll help get those small and odd jobs completed for you.

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On the Lighter Side

Gary Larson's "The Far Side"

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Tips For Making Your Home More Sellable

for sale

As someone who photographs and markets homes for a living, working one on one with Realtors has certainly shed some light on what helps sell a home- PREPARATION.

Before you put your home on the market there are some things you can do to differentiate your house from the others.

Your first concern is the home's exterior. If the outside, or "curb appeal," looks good people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside. Keep the lawn and landscape nicely manicured. Trim the bushes and, season permitting, plant some flowers. Be sure your front door area has a "Welcome" feeling. A fresh coat of paint on the front door looks great.

Of all the rooms inside your home pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. They should look as modern, bright, and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free. A fresh coat of paint just may do the trick. Have any leaky faucets taken care of. A call to a plumber is a wise investment.

Since you want your home to look as spacious as possible remove any excess or very large furniture. Make sure that table tops, dressers, and closets are free of clutter. Don't use your garage, attic, or basement to store unused items because these areas also need to give the impression of being spacious. Instead, put the unused and bulky items into storage. Make sure walls and doors are free of smudges, and look for anything that might indicate a maintenance problem such as cracked windows, holes in the walls, or stained ceilings.

Quick tips for realtor showings

• Keep counter tops cleared
• Replace all burned out light bulbs (this is HUGE!)
• Open all drapes and window blinds
• Put pets in cages or take them to a neighbor
• No dirty dishes in the sink
• No laundry in the washer/dryer
• Clean or replace dirty or worn carpets
• Put on soft music
• The fireplace should be clean

Always look at your home from the buyer's point of view. Be objective and be honest.

Before you put your home on the market, there are some things you can do to differentiate your house among the competitors.

For more tips on preparing your home for sale and finding top area Realtors contact Janet McReynolds at janet.mcreynolds@sbcglobal.net or give me a call at 214-551-5015. I would love to connect you with the perfect Realtor to guide you through the process.

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Current or former member of the military?

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If you or someone you know is a current or former member of the military I would like to offer my design services at a discounted fee in appreciation for your service to our country. I also would like to extend discounted design rates to policemen and firemen.

God bless you for your service!

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ReStore NCC

Located at 2060 Couch Drive in Southeast McKinney they offer donated merchandise for sale at a discount. The store is open to the public and the proceeds help to fund the various Habitat projects in the area.

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